Test levels. Why do we make them? Why do we host them? Why do we play them?

Frankly, I wish we didn't. But seeing as that is obviously not the case, I've written this short bit of anti-test-level propaganda.

Test levels are levels that "test" your jazzing abilities. They're often hosted online, so that the host can record the "best" jazzers that survive their tedium... whoops, I mean challenges.

Quick, let's answer the above questions before I make any more subconcious slips. We make test levels because it's fun to design challenges for other jazzers. We host them because it's fun to watch other jazzers pit their "skills" against our witty designs. We play them because it's fun to overcome aforementioned witty designs.

Or is it? In my opinion, quite frankly, the answer is a resounding "No", at least for the bit about playing the levels. As far as making and hosting the levels goes, I've never made one but I would imagine it would be just as fun as creating race levels or normal single player levels.

The reasons that, for me, it is no fun to play test levels include the following:

-First and foremost, I find them reeeaaally tedious. About as tedious as doing long division, only more frustrating. It could be argued that I suck and therefore I would not "get" the fun, but to this I say: I find easy test levels just as tedious, minus a bit of the frustration.

-Second, what do test levels test you on? Mostly maneuverability and little tricks or quirks in jazz or spazz's movement. Is this relevant to anything outside of this carefully controlled test-level environment? I say no. Any jazzer worth their salt knows they're ten times better off learning levels they will actually play games in. When's the last time you played a battle, ctf, or even race level in which there was a part so deviously constructed that you needed at least 10 tries to get through it? Test levels are too specific to have real relevance to actual gaming.

-In a test level, you really only compete against yourself. Somebody please remind me why my computer is plugged into the phone jack again. (in case that was too subtle for you, I mean this: why compete against yourself when you could be facing the much more wholesome challenge of real, thinking, and reacting foes?)

In summary, playing a test level is like banging my head against a wall. Have a heart. Host a real multiplayer level.

stripe